As Egyptian government tumbles, expat’s thoughts turn to home

As Cairo’s Tahrir Square burst into celebration at the military overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi, native Egyptians like Mohanad Mossalam of Boston watched the historic events unfold with rapt attention.

Regularly checking a wide range of media outlets for the latest news and exchanging frequent Facebook messages with friends and family in Egypt, Mossalam, 31, intently followed the widespread protests that led to Morsi’s removal Wednesday.

“Any news,” he said Thursday. “From all over.”

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With his homeland again facing deep political unrest, Mossalam has watched with mixed emotions. While he opposed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, he said it was regrettable the country’s first democratically elected president was ousted by the military.

“It’s really a coup, not a revolution,” said Mossalam, who grew up in Egypt before coming to the United States.

Mossalam said he has been calling friends and family, many of whom have protested in Tahrir Square, for the latest developments. Only through such firsthand accounts, he said, can he learn what is really happening.

Mossalam said he is almost certain violence will escalate, and he worries his brother, a police officer, will become a target of Morsi opponents. He also has friends and family who support Morsi, and are upset over his fate.

He worries the military’s involvement will impede the country’s democratic movement and lead to more unrest.

“Morsi as president didn’t do a great job,” he said. “But at the same time he was democratically elected.”